Will Sam’s Club Raise Membership Fees in 2025?
Image source: Getty Images When Costco raised the cost of its membership fees in September, it wasn’t particularly surprising. The warehouse club titan was overdue for an increase seeing as how it hadn’t made any changes to its fee structure since mid-2017. As a result of that September fee hike, a Costco membership now costs […]
9 States Tax Social Security Benefits — Is Yours One of Them?
The bulk of U.S. states don’t tax Social Security at all. However, nine still have some sort of Social Security benefit taxes, and in this video, Certified Financial Planner® Matt Frankel discusses them. *Stock prices used were the morning prices of Nov. 13, 2024. The video was published on Nov. 14, 2024. The $22,924 Social […]
Prediction: Here’s When We’ll See 4% Mortgage Rates Again?
Image source: Getty Images The average 30-year mortgage rate in the United States is just under 7% as of this writing, but it wasn’t too long ago when rates below 4% — and even 3% — were the industry standard. Many people will tell you things like “4% mortgage rates are never coming back.” But […]
3 Hidden Downsides to Your Costco Executive Membership
Image source: Upsplash/The Motley Fool Costco memberships got more expensive this year. A Gold Star membership will now set you back $65, and an Executive membership costs $130. You earn 2% cash back with the latter, which can easily make up for the cost. If you spend over $271 per month at Costco, you’ll come […]
Act Fast to Save $80 or More on These Electronics at Costco
Image source: Getty Images If you or someone you love is overdue for a tech upgrade, the holiday season is the perfect time to shop for TVs, computers, tablets, and more. Many retailers are running extra sales to help shoppers stretch their dollars further during a busy and expensive time of year. If you’re a […]
Save Up to $300 With These November Costco Deals
Image source: Getty Images Still have gifts to buy before the holidays arrive? If you have a Costco membership card, you can save money by shopping members-only deals. Whether you’re looking to spoil yourself or get presents for your loved ones, the warehouse club has many great buys on sale throughout the rest of the […]
This Is the Average Social Security Benefit for Age 67
I won’t keep you in suspense. The average 67-year-old retired worker gets a monthly benefit of $1,883.50 per month, according to the 2024 Social Security Statistical Supplement. That’s equivalent to about $22,600 per year in inflation-protected retirement income. However, it’s lower than the overall average benefit paid to a retired worker, which was $1,905.31 per […]
Aldi’s $47 Thanksgiving Basket May Be the Best Holiday Meal Deal Out There. Here’s Why
Image source: Getty Images Even before Thanksgiving gets here, most people’s eyes are already on Christmas. That’s partially because Christmas is a lot easier to commercialize. But retailers have found one way to draw in customers at Thanksgiving the last few years, and that’s by offering special Thanksgiving meal deals. Many major retailers, including Costco, […]
Signing a Mortgage Before 2025? Don’t Make This Big Mistake
Image source: Getty Images If buying a home is a goal of yours, then you may be eager to put a mortgage in place before the end of the year. The good news is that the Federal Reserve recently lowered its benchmark interest rate for a second time this year. That could lead to lower […]
Forget About Cash Back: Here Are 3 Better Ways to Use Your Capital One Rewards Points
Image source: Getty Images So, you’ve been diligently racking up Capital One miles with every swipe, tap, and online impulse purchase. And now you’re wondering: Should you just hit that cash back button? I mean, sure, it’s easy. But hold up, there are far savvier ways to put those hard-earned miles to work (and much […]
